The new measures are expected to be formally adopted at the next meeting of the Committee, scheduled for June 2021 and to enter into force on 1 January 2023.

The International Maritime Organization, OMI-IMO, has adopted draft amendments to Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from short-term maritime transport.

These new measures, which have been discussed at the 75th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, aim to achieve the levels of ambition set out in the initial IMO Strategy, to reduce the carbon intensity of international maritime transport by 40 per cent by 2030, compared with 2008.

These amendments provide for two new measures for the energy efficiency of ships. The first, with a technical approach, incorporates a new energy efficiency index for existing vessels and reduction factors according to the type of vessel... the operation of this new EAXI would be the same as that of the energy efficiency index for new vessels in force since 2013 for vessels of 400 GT or more.

The second measure would have an operational approach, with a new carbon intensity indicator, which would apply to ships with a gross tonnage of 5,000 GT or more... each vessel shall calculate it annually, according to which it will be qualified as A, B, C, D and E. The rating obtained shall be included in the Energy Efficiency Management Plan of the vessel).

These amendments provide for two new measures for the energy efficiency of ships. The first, with a technical approach, incorporates a new energy efficiency index for existing vessels (EEXI measured in gr CO2 / (tmilla transported) and reduction factors according to the type of vessel. The operation of this new EEXI would be the same as that of the Energy Efficiency Index for new vessels (EEDI) in force since 2013 for vessels of 400 GT or more.